This popular side-scrolling shooter features a unique weapon system called the Prisoner Beam that captures enemies to use them as shields or launch them at other foes. The English dialogue in the opening scene of the Mega Drive version in Europe has become the source of one of the world's most famous memes.
ZERO WING
Japanese title: ZERO WING
| Release | 1989 |
| Genre | Side-scrolling shooting |
| Platforms | Arcade Mega Drive Steam Others |
Story
The year is 2101... The Galactic Space Federation has started work on a new project. Entitled the Galaxy Defense Base Development Plan, the project was created to construct defensive bases in eight different locations in order to protect the galaxy from alien invasion. However, the band of space pirates known as CATS was also operating behind the scenes... They were working in conjunction with the federal government to seize control of the Andromeda galaxy. It's time for action! Zero Wing! With the fate of the galaxy at stake, a massive war was starting to unfold...
Controls & How to Play
The object you grab can serve as a shield and deflect enemy bullets.
Although, the object will be destroyed once it is hit by an enemy bullet.
If you press the Prisoner Beam button while grabbing an object, it will shoot straight out from your ship like a bullet.
If your ship is hit by enemy fire, or collides with an enemy or certain obstacles such as the terrain, it will be destroyed and you will lose a life.
When you restart after losing a life, all of your power-ups will be reset and you will begin with only the Vulcan Shot equipped.
The game is over if you lose all of your lives.
【Items】
Red item: Vulcan Shot
These appear when you destroy certain enemies.
Pick one up to turn your shot into a Vulcan Shot, and if you don't have the Zero Wing attachments yet, they will appear above and below your ship.
The Vulcan Shot covers a wide range in front of your ship and features excellent rapid fire capabilities.
The Zero Wings move along with you and will attack using the same shot type that you do.
They also have a hit detection box, and can deflect certain enemy bullets.
The Zero Wings also inflict damage on enemies if they crash into them.
If you pick one up when you already have a Vulcan Shot equipped, your shot will be powered up (3 levels).
Blue item: Laser Shot
These appear when you destroy certain enemies.
Pick this up to equip a Laser Shot.
The laser is a shot that is capable of piercing certain enemies, and fires a linear beam straight in front of you.
If you pick one up when you already have a Laser Shot equipped, your shot will be powered up (3 levels).
Green item: Homing Shot
These appear when you destroy certain enemies.
Pick this up to equip a Homing Shot.
The Homing Shot is a shot that fires a beam in front of your ship that tracks enemies.
If you pick one up when you already have a Homing Shot equipped, your shot will be powered up (3 levels).
If you pick up an item that is the same color as what you already have equipped when you are fully powered up, you will receive 5,000 points instead.
Speed-boosting item
These appear when you destroy certain enemies.
They increase the speed of your ship (4 levels).
If you pick one up when you are already at top speed, you will receive 5,000 points instead.
Bomb item
These appear when you destroy certain enemies.
If you grab this item with your Prisoner Beam, it will be attached to the front of your ship and is capable of deflecting three enemy bullets.
It will explode once it has deflected three bullets, taking out any enemy bullets in a wide area, and it also will inflict heavy damage on any enemies caught in the blast.
By pressing the Prisoner Beam button, you can fire the bomb in front of your ship, causing a large explosion if it hits an enemy or obstacle.
"1UP" item
You can obtain this item on rare occasions when you pick up a specific item.
Pick it up to receive an extra life.
"10UP" item
You can obtain this item on rare occasions when you pick up a specific item.
Pick it up to receive ten extra lives.
- POINT1
- Pipiru people
They are hidden in specific locations, and if you capture one with the Prisoner Beam, you will receive 10,000 points.
- POINT2
- Special power-up
These appear when you destroy certain enemies and meet certain conditions.
Pick up this item to power up your Shot and your Zero Wings beyond their maximum level.
Impressions
“Catch! Shoot! Beat them down!“ Just like the tagline on the game's poster implied, this side scrolling shooter's epic space battles featured a unique new gameplay element—the ability to capture enemies with the Prisoner Beam and destroy them by hurling them into other objects. This title was renowned in both Japan and overseas for its graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay, and was also ported to various home consoles. In addition, the game became famous worldwide following the release of the SEGA Mega Drive version in Europe. In the opening cutscene of the European version of the game, the line spoken by CATS, “All your base are belong to us“, became an internet sensation from 2001 to 2002. Even today, it remains one of the most popular internet memes of all time. People provided their own unique take on the scene by adding various photos, GIFs, and Flash animations to the original footage, and took the internet by storm. In the United States, the phenomenon was covered in the news, made into a techno song, and even served as the title of a blog post by the CEO of a major electric car company, proving the endearing nature of this title!